Haverfordwest County 2 - Aberystwyth Town 1

Two goals from Danny Williams, one the outstanding winner, helped Haverfordwest County continue their impressive start to the new campaign with victory at the Bridge Meadow against an Aberystwyth Town development side that included experienced campaigner Geoff Kellaway and a couple of capable trialists from London.

The Bluebirds also gave a run out in goal for the second half to Stephen Hill, who has played in goal for Taffs Well; the first half seeing new signing Kyle Stuart between the sticks and Nick Jones in the dugout as he is off soon to college.

Strength in depth

Manager Sean Cresser must be pleased with the overall strength of his new squad, especially since he was without club captain Sean Pemberton, new striker Lee Trundle and others, but with the likes of Matthew Broome, Martin Carroll, Jack Wilson, and Curtis Hicks enjoying second-half run-outs and looking at home.

But the major boost to Cresser's squad has to be Tom Dyson and Elliot Scotcher in midfield alongside Ricky Watts whilst Alaric Jones again looked fully at home alongside Tim Hicks at the heart of the defence.

Haverfordwest looked comfortable on the ball from the outset as Steffan Williams, Ben Fawcett and especially Danny Williams looked sharp and testing Aber keeper Alex Pennock from the very beginning

Deserved lead as Williams strikes

It wasn't all one way however, as a Kellaway header almost caught Stuart unawares and a shot by Eliott Anssi flew the wrong side of the post.

But a home goal seemed bound to come and it was set up by Dyson's industry before a shot by attacking full back Leon Luby was parried by Pennock and Danny Williams pounced to angle the ball into the far corner.

Scotcher and Williams had other half chances but Aberystwyth levelled matters shortly after the break with a goal that was lucky to say the least - when talented midfielder Lee Jenkins’ shot appeared to pose little threat until it hit the prostrate Kellaway on the back and took a deflection past a despondent Hill in the County goal.

A terrific goal – and another disallowed for offside!

The Bluebirds had several chances to regain the lead before they did so with a cracking shot from Danny Williams from 25 yards that flew into the far corner - a quality strike from a quality player!

There were other half chances for Haverfordwest which included a rebound off the crossbar from Wilson and a wonderfully hooked volley by Steffan Williams which almost burst the net before the teams saw the assistant’s flag raised for offside.

Final words

Aberystwyth Town's chairman, Donald Cane, was full of praise for Williams' winner and told us,
"That was a goal that deserved to win a football match! We had almost the same team losing 1-0 at Telford Town last night and we have learned more about our young players and trialists today against promising opposition, so the trip has been worthwhile for us."

Haverfordwest County's manager Sean Cresser said afterwards,
"I'm pleased with another win but it is only a single pre-season step along the road to a tough Welsh League programme and we will keep our heads down, work hard and keep gaining a better understanding of where we want to go."